Ipswich Ale Brewery - Oatmeal Stout

Ipswich’s Oatmeal Stout pours an opaque black, capped by a lasting head of rich brown foam. Be sure to let this brew shed some of its fridge coldness before pouring, in order to let the aromas and flavors express themselves fully. On the nose, we picked up a prominent roast character reminiscent of scorched bread crust & caramel, along with coffee grounds and dark chocolate. Look for some spicy and lightly earthy hop overtones, too. Big roasted malt notes come forth on the palate, delivering impressions of dark-roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and a touch of ash. Oatmeal stouts utilize oats to develop the style’s characteristic full body and creamy smoothness, and Ipswich’s version is no exception, offering a satisfying, round mouthfeel. A touch of residual sweetness contributes to the effect and also provides a balancing note to the big roasty core and significant hop bitterness. Enjoy this robust stout with all manner of grilled and barbecued meats. It’s hard to beat a charbroiled burger with sharp cheddar, BBQ sauce, and grilled onions. Cheers!

The roots of Ipswich Ale Brewery go back to the founding of Ipswich Brewing Company in 1991, making 2016 the 25th anniversary of this icon of Massachusetts’ North Shore. In 1999, the former Ipswich brewmaster, Rob Martin, bought the brewery from founders Paul Sylva and Jim Beauvais. The brewery sold their Ipswich branded beers under the name of Mercury Brewing Company for many years before transitioning the branding entirely to Ipswich Ale Brewery more recently.

The brewery is situated in Ipswich, Massachusetts, a town on the seaside northeast of Boston. In 2013, the brewery was moved into a new, larger location which used to be home to Soffron Brothers Clams. In January of this year, Rob and the team at Ipswich opened a new restaurant adjacent to the brewhouse. Known as Ipswich Ale Brewer’s Table, the gastropub offers traditional pub fare along with more sophisticated offerings, and it boasts 15 taps, including some exclusive limited-edition Ipswich beers you can only get at the restaurant.

Additionally, Ipswich has also come out with a complete line of hand-crafted soda-pop and a mustard imbued with Ipswich Oatmeal Stout. And, we have to mention this: you can rent one of their Tapmobiles for special events, to enjoy up to eight of your favorite Ipswich beers and sodas from taps running along the side of a classic old delivery truck converted into a party-mobile extraordinaire. How awesome is that?! For more information about the brewery, their beers and sodas, and scheduled tours, call 978-356-3329 or visit them at www.ipswichalebrewery.com.